Capítulo 129: 129
The butterfly effect brought about by Hess' momentary idea was amazing.
The Russians did not have any doubts about the disinformation we leaked.
Soon, through spies in the Soviet Union, information about the big fish caught by the bait we had spread was relayed to Berlin one after another.
Soviet Navy Minister Nikolai Kuznetsov was arrested by the NKVD along with his family. Position revoked.
Alexander Novikov, second in command of the Soviet Air Force. Like Kuznetsov, he was arrested by the NKVD along with his entire family. As expected, he was stripped of his position.
Kirill Meretskov, Konstantin Rokossovsky. These two men had already been arrested and were in the Gulag. They were sentenced to death.
In addition to these people, several scientists who were purged and held in the Gulag, like Korolov, were also executed.
The plan to weaken the Soviet Army, the German army's greatest enemy and greatest threat, was successful.
However, Zhukov, who was ranked number one at risk, surprisingly survived.
He was neither stripped of his title nor taken to the Gulag. The only action Stalin took against him was to arrest and monitor his family and relatives.
"It seems that Stalin's trust in Zhukov was more than I thought."
Considering that only Zhukov was spared while other generals were executed mercilessly, there is no explanation other than that Stalin's trust was so strong.
If you think about it, in actual history, Zhukov ended up being demoted to commander of the Ural Military District when everyone else was purged.
He's a good guy with a bit of luck.
It's unfortunate that we couldn't eliminate Zhukov, the biggest threat, but this was enough of a success.
For us, we were able to greatly reduce the strength of the Soviet army without shedding a single drop of blood. It's an added bonus that it set back the Soviet Union's scientific development by several decades.
I feel sorry for the dead, but what can I do? They should blame themselves for having a man like Stalin as their leader.
There was another piece of good news.
I had long missed the taste of my hometown, and as soon as I became President, I put in a lot of effort to console my homesick tongue.
Today, one of those efforts paid off.
"this… . "What kind of food is it?"
"It looks like noodles."
With a benevolent smile, I explain the results of Germany's best scientists and food engineers after a long period of research to the heads of the military - Göring, Himmler, Keitel, Brauchitsch, and Leder - who look at everything strangely. did.
"Ah, this is 'ramen.' "It's a food that doesn't exist in this world."
"la… .Men?"
"What is that?"
"It's a bit long to explain. Well, where should I begin to explain… .."
To explain very briefly, the Chinese word 'ramian (拉面)' means hand-made noodles, and the noodle soup that you eat by rolling it in soup is commonly known as 'ramen (ラーメン)', which has been localized in Japan.
Legendary Japanese inventor Momofuku Ando instantiated this ramen and introduced it in 1958, which is now known as ramen in Korea.
After becoming President, no matter how expensive and rare I ate, my tongue could not forget the taste, just as people miss their mother's home-cooked meals.
So, I instructed scientists to develop instant ramen under the pretext of creating a new combat ration for German soldiers.
I have never made instant ramen myself, but I remember seeing the general recipe in books and on the Internet.
To preserve boiled flour noodles at room temperature for a long time, they must be fried in oil to remove moisture and block contact with oxygen; to allow the soup to soak into the noodles well and cook quickly, they must be twisted, etc.
The first instant ramen was created by packaging the finished noodles along with the soup in a polystyrene-coated paper cup.
Chicken ramen, the first instant ramen, was based on chicken broth-based Soyu ramen and contained soup that tasted like Soyu ramen, but because Soyu ramen is not eaten in Germany, it contained soup that tasted like Eintoff.
I intentionally didn't add any ingredients.
Since the original purpose was to make it as combat rations, the manufacturing process needed to be simpler, and it can be eaten by mixing it with other foods such as peas or sausages.
I personally gathered my associates and explained how to taste instant ramen.
First, open the packaging. About half.
Second, sprinkle the soup over the noodles and pour hot water.
Third, cover the packaging again and wait for 3 minutes.
"Open the lid after 3 minutes and it's done."
Normally, ramen tastes best when eaten with chopsticks, but for these lowly Germans who have never used chopsticks before, they demonstrated it using a fork.
It's been a long time since I got used to eating noodles with a fork, but I still feel more comfortable using chopsticks.
When I stepped forward and demonstrated, the others all started cooking cup ramen according to my instructions.
Sprinkle the soup, pour hot water, cover again with the wrapper and wait for 3 minutes.
"Uhm. "It's my first time eating it."
"I didn't expect much since it was combat rations, but it was quite edible."
The generals' reaction was generally favorable.
If I were to point out a disadvantage, it would be that since it is not canned but packaged in a paper cup, it can be easily damaged by a small impact, it is difficult to store for a long time, and it is very difficult to eat without a fork.
Because it is a type of noodle, it is difficult to eat with a spoon or bare hands.
"Still, it's a new taste, the manufacturing method is simple, and the ingredients are simple, so I think the soldiers will respond well."
Brauhitch ate every drop of the soup left in the cup as if it was to his taste.
"cancer. It was originally made for combat rations, but I'm thinking of selling it to the private sector as well. What do you think? "I think the public's reaction will be quite good."
"As long as the price is right, the public's response will be good."
Besides ramen, there were other foods planned as combat rations.
Brotsuppe is a German soup that literally translates to 'bread soup.' As the name suggests, it is a soup made by adding pieces of bread to cream soup.
This one is also made with powdered soup and several pieces of dry bread so that it can be cooked and eaten simply like instant ramen, but considering the price and difficulty of making it, this one is much cheaper.
Unlike ramen, which requires a fork to eat, all you need is a spoon, and if you don't even have one, you can just drink it like soup.
"By the way, did you say this guy's name is Ramen?"
"exactly. "The name comes from Japanese cuisine."
"It was definitely made in Germany, but wouldn't people be offended if the name was foreign? And Japan and Germany don't have a good relationship."
Everyone nodded at Kaitel's point.
Although it was made in Germany, it is definitely strange that the name is Japanese.
"That too. "Then is there a suitable name?"
Göring, who was contemplating alone while holding an empty cup, snapped his fingers and said.
"The Fuhrer designed it, so why not call it the Führernudel?"
"… .."
Since I made it with an idea that came out of my head, should I call it 'President's Noodles'? Tiramisu is already called Fürerkuchen, so why bother?
"Oh, that's a great idea."
"I agree!"
"Ahm. "The President made it, so it should be called that!"
The name of the world's first instant ramen was chosen unanimously, including Göring, who gave opinions.
Wow, I'm excited.
***
February 15, 1942
Singapore, a strategic location at the tip of the Malay Peninsula and connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, fell to the Japanese army.
About 90,000 British and Commonwealth troops became prisoners of the Japanese army, and a huge amount of military supplies fell into the hands of the Japanese army.
According to the original plan, the supplies had to be destroyed in time to prevent the enemy from capturing and using them, but there was no way the third-tier units, who were busy running away, would properly carry out orders.
For example, as much as 325,000 tons of rice was captured by the Japanese military.
Even if 150 kg is distributed to 100,000 soldiers per year, this is enough to last them for 20 years.
It wasn't just food that was captured. The British army donated almost all of its supplies to the Japanese army, from vehicles such as cars and trucks to fuel, cigarettes, and alcohol.
"Tenno Heika Banzai!"
"Banzai!"
The Japanese army celebrated their victory by drinking captured British whiskey.
Even a captain was assigned a captured car, and the soldiers feasted on rice from India and canned beef from Australia.
The humiliating defeat suffered by Britain in the Malay Peninsula shocked the British people beyond imagination.
People already remembered the crushing defeat the BEF suffered in France two years ago.
But at least at that time, the opponent was the German army. Because it was a fight between fellow white people and a defeat, people may have been shocked, but they did not feel humiliated.
But this time the situation was different. This time, the enemy the British army fought was not the German army, which was also white, but the Japanese army, which was yellow.
The army of the British Empire was defeated by such an inferior army.
The news of the defeat in the Battle of Singapore caused an uproar throughout Britain.
And now, voices of criticism and criticism continued against the government and military, which had brought irreparable shame to Britain by defeating Japan.
Winston Churchill, who will forever be remembered as Mr. Gallipoli, also joined the public criticism of the government and raised his voice.
"The British Empire suffered an unspeakable and extremely humiliating defeat in Asia.
Our soldiers, young men from England, Wales and Scotland. And the Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians fought hard. But their courage and fighting spirit were not rewarded.
The soldiers were abandoned. slaughtered by the enemy. I experienced the humiliation of being taken prisoner by the enemy.
Why do our soldiers have to go through this humiliation and suffering? "If the government had been a little less incompetent, if it had recognized Japan's ambitions in time, we wouldn't have come to this day!"
"That's right! "That's right!"
"Go away from the incompetent government!"
Churchill himself had a significant contribution to Britain's defeat in Asia, so he should have had nothing to say.
But Churchill is someone. He was a man who was better than anyone else in England at avoiding his own responsibilities and passing all the blame on to others.
Although it did not work during Chamberlain's time, the passage of time helped Churchill.
In the past, Britain's defeats in Europe, especially Churchill's handshake that turned Norway, Denmark, and Sweden into Britain's enemies, have been almost forgotten in people's memories, overshadowed by the defeat in the Malay Peninsula.
Churchill took advantage of that gap. Taking advantage of people's forgetfulness, he attacked his own cabinet and its head, Halifax.
Some members of the Labor Party, which had previously been at odds with Halifax, and the Conservative Party, which viewed Churchill with a prickly gaze, also joined Churchill again.
The Labor Party wanted to use this opportunity to bring down the Conservative Party, and some in the Conservative Party thought that someone had to take responsibility before the public's anger turned towards the Conservative Party as a whole.
Isn't it possible for everyone to die together? Those who will live must live.
The person chosen as the scapegoat was Britain's current Prime Minister, Halifax.
"Are you out of your mind now?"
Halifax looked at Churchill with hatred and disgust, as if he were his parents' enemy.
Churchill flinched for a moment under Halifax's gaze, but soon showed his usual sly smile and mocked Halifax.
"Did I say something I shouldn't have said, Prime Minister?"
"You, how did you!"
"I just told the people the truth. I know that you tried your best. But Prime Minister, history does not recognize those who work hard, but recognizes those who have achieved results."
"So, what do you want? "Is this position something you really want?"
"Uh huh. What are you saying? "I'm not doing this because I want the position of Prime Minister of the British Empire."
"then? Why are you attacking me?"
"I have never attacked the Prime Minister. I simply reminded you that you must take responsibility for this crushing defeat. As the Prime Minister knows, the people have already turned their backs on you. The Conservative Party has decided that there is no hope for you. So, please leave now."
"Huh, in the end, you told me honestly that you wanted this position. "At least it would have looked less ugly, Mr. Gallipoli."
Churchill's calm face suddenly turned red.
Churchill barely managed to keep his smile as he continued speaking, but his voice was already trembling with anger.
"If you calmly resign now, the people will understand you later. so-"
"I will not deny my mistakes. But if that were the case, you wouldn't have anything to say, right? "Isn't the crushing defeat in the Battle of Malaya largely your fault?"
"Hmm, hmm. "The outcome of the Battle of Malaya was a tragedy, but it was an unavoidable misfortune caused by a sudden surprise attack."
"I don't know if the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers would think that way, too."
"The bereaved family will also want the prime minister to resign from his position."
Across the House of Lords and the House of Representatives, the Conservative Party and the Labor Party, there was no one who did not know that Churchill was also responsible for the crushing defeat of the British army.
However, other than Churchill, there was no one capable of taking on the position of Prime Minister.
To be precise, there was no one who wanted to take on the position of prime minister.
No one wanted to repeat Chamberlain's path by becoming prime minister when the war situation was as desperate as it is now.
Except one, Churchill.
"Prime Minister Halifax twice brought irreparable shame to the British Empire. He signed an armistice with Germany and lost Singapore to Japan. If he doesn't let go of power, London may become a sea of fire!"
"Halifax must resign as prime minister!"
"Bring back to life my dead son! "Go away from the incompetent government!"
As pressure from the public as well as the political world intensified, Halifax was unable to withstand it.
In the first place, he did not become prime minister because he wanted to, but took over the position at Chamberlain's request.
He knew that the seat he was sitting in was a poison that someone had to drink, and he was willing to drink that poison for the future of the British Empire.
Chamberlain, Halifax's trusty colleague, is no longer in this world. He did not survive the year the war ended and ended his life lonely.
As it was not a position he wanted, he had no regrets. She Halifax smiled bitterly.
"I understand. "Then, why don't you become the prime minister you so desperately want and lead this country?"
"Don't worry. "I intend to make the British Empire great again."
If he clings to Churchill like Chamberlain did, he will be able to prevent this man from becoming British Prime Minister.
But that wasn't the case in Halifax.
Knowing that no one would listen to anything he said, he chose to quietly withdraw.
No matter what he says now, people will dismiss it as an ugly excuse from an incompetent prime minister.
And I was personally curious.
Will that handsome man be able to lead this country successfully? Or maybe he was just the same instigator after all, and Halifax wanted to see with his own eyes.
"Good luck. but… . Please know this one thing. "Things in the world never go the way you want."
"Who, not even a child, does not know that simple principle?"
"And there is one more thing I would like to ask you. If you were to face a situation similar to mine, I would hope that you would show the same determination as me. "For this country and its people."
"Keep that in mind."
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